But Farnham, placed completely at his ease regarding possible recognition, proceeded coolly.
"Yet, that does not sufficiently account for my inviting you here." And he leaned farther across the table, slightly lowering his voice.
"My important reason for speaking is entirely a business one.

You are, I understand, a mining engineer ?" Winston permitted his eyes to acquiesce, fully determined now to allow this man to exhibit his own hand completely before making any return play.

Farnham, watching the face of the other closely, paused to relight his cigar.
"The simple fact is," he resumed, carelessly, "we are having some little difficulty at present regarding certain mining claims we are operating up in Echo Canyon.

Nothing at all serious, you understand, but there 's plenty of bad blood, and we naturally prefer keeping the entire controversy out of the courts, if possible.

A lawsuit, whatever its final result, would be quite certain to tie up the property for an indefinite period.